Halladay leads Blue Jays to win over Orioles

Halladay won his 10th straight decision over Baltimore, Vernon
Wells and Marco Scutaro hit two-run homers in a four-run third
and the Blue Jays beat the Orioles 7-3 on Sunday.

"We scored some runs early for me and that makes a big
difference," said Halladay, who had received three runs of
support or fewer in six of his past seven outings.

Halladay (12-5) allowed three runs and nine hits in eight
innings, walked one and struck out four. He won for just the
second time in eight starts since coming off the 15-day disabled
list June 29 after missing two turns with a sore groin.

"This is probably as well as we've swung the bat against
Halladay and probably our best chance," Orioles manager Dave
Trembley said.

It still wasn't enough, as the righty improved to 20-4 with a
2.89 ERA in 31 career games against the Orioles. Halladay has
not lost to Baltimore since May 4, 2005, and is 2-0 in three
starts against the O's this season. He said consistent run
support is the biggest reason for his success.

"We've had pretty good games offensively and that's made a big
difference," Halladay said. "It's a never an easy lineup to
face, especially when you've seen them a lot, but I think the
fact that we can score runs has made it easier."

Baltimore's Luke Scott is 7 for 15 with three homers off
Halladay but doesn't look forward to facing the Toronto ace.

"He's a very smart pitcher," Scott said. "He knows how to use
the stuff he has very, very well. That's why he's able to go
late in games all the time. He pitches to contact, he doesn't
mess around."

Jason Frasor finished in the ninth for Toronto.

Scutaro matched a career high with four hits and Kevin Millar
homered and went 3 for 3 with a walk.

Baltimore rookie Brian Matusz (1-1), making his second career
start, gave up all three home runs.

Matusz, who had not lost since May 8, when he was pitching for
Class-A Frederick, didn't hang his head.

"I'm upset about it but I know what I did," the 22-year-old
said. "That's one important thing. I know what I did wrong, I
know what I need to do to improve. I'm able to learn a lot from
today and hopefully get back to winning ways my next outing."

Scott's RBI single gave Baltimore a 1-0 lead in the second but
Millar connected in the bottom half to tie it, his sixth.

The Orioles made it 2-1 with an unearned run in the third.
Robert Andino reached on Scutaro's fielding error, stole second
and scored on Cesar Izturis' double.

Toronto chased Matusz and took the lead for good in the bottom
half. Scutaro followed Jose Bautista's leadoff single with a
homer to left, his career-high 10th. Two outs later, Millar
walked and came around on a two-run drive by Wells, his 12th.

It's the 15th time this season the Blue Jays have hit multiple
homers in an inning.

The left-handed Matusz, who beat Detroit in his major league
debut on Aug. 4, was gone after 2 2-3 innings. He allowed five
runs and seven hits, walked two and struck out one.

"He didn't locate his fastball as well (as last Tuesday) and his
slider wasn't as effective for him," Trembley said. "He tried to
get ahead with his fastball and he tried to pitch in with his
fastball but he left it over the middle of the plate."

Melvin Mora made it 5-3 with an RBI single in the sixth but
Halladay struck out Scott with a curveball to strand runners at
first and second.

"I was hoping Luke Scott would hit a three-run homer today,"
Trembley said. "I thought that was what we needed. He's hit
Halladay good and he's hit good in this ballpark. We needed a
three-run homer today and it didn't happen."

Millar and Wells hit RBI singles as Toronto tacked on two more
in the seventh against Matt Albers.

NOTES: Orioles 2B Brian Roberts, who left Saturday's game after
fouling a ball off his left shin, did not play. Manager Dave
Trembley said Roberts would have to wear a shin guard if he
played Monday against Oakland. ... Former Blue Jays closer Tom
Henke threw out the first pitch. ... The roof was closed when
the game started but opened in the top of the fifth.